The biosynthesis of phenazines: incorporation of [2H]shikimic acid

Abstract

The incorporation of [2-²H]shikimic acid into iodinin gives results which prove that the phenazine ring system is formed from two units of shikimic acid, and which establish the orientation of these units. The incorporation of [2,4-²H₂]shikimic acid into iodinin and other phenazines occurs with partial loss of the C-4 deuteron. The synthesis of the [²H]shikimic acids required modifications to existing methods.